Threshing-machine.



PATENTED JUNE 9, 1903.

1-1. W. FLAGG. THRESHEINAG MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED APB. 4,1903.

N0 MODEL.

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No. 730,754. V

UNITED STATES Patented June 9, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

ELI W. FLAGG, OF BATTLECREEK, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO NICHOLS AND SHEPARD COMPANY, OF BATTLECREEK, MICHIGAN.

THRESHlNG-M'ACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 730,754, dated June 9, 1903.

Application filed April 4, 1903. Serial No. 151,057. (No model.) i

T at whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELI W. FLAGG, a citizen of the United States, residing at Battlecreek, in the county of Calhoun and State of Michigan, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Threshing-Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being bad therein to the accompanying drawings. This invention relates to threshing ma chines, the object of the present invention being to provide a movable grain-check or, in other words, a device comprising a mov able grain-impinging surface and located di- I 5 rectly in rear of a grate which is steeply inclined from the rear end of the concave upward in close proximity to the sweepof the cylinder-teeth, the said grain-check being adapted to catch and stop the grains or ker- 2o nels which pass through the grate and by.

tion, and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter fully described, illustrated, and claimed. In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section through a sufficient portion of a threshing-machine to illustrate the nature of the present invention and its application thereto. Fig. 2 is a detail perspective view of the grain-check, showing its relation to the machine and the means for operating the rotary members of the graincheck. Fig. 3 is an end View of the graincheck. Fig. 4 is a detail horizontal section through thegrain-check and grate. Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic end viewof several sets of rotary members with various forms of graincatching teethor pockets. Fig. 6 is a detail end view of a modified form of grain-checking device employing a pair of rollers and an endless apron.

Like reference-numerals designate corre- 5'0 sponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

pinions 15.

. Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the cylinder of a threshing-machine of the usual type, 2 the concave, and 3 the grain-pan, arranged beneath the concave and extending rearwardly under the straw-carrier sections, the forward one of which is shown at 4, said straw carrier section being supported by means of pivotal links 5 and being operative ly connected pivotally to the grain-pan at 5 The concave 2 comprises a concave portion which is slatted or grated, as shown at 3, while extending upward at a steep inclination in rear of the cylinder is a grate 6, which forms, in effect, a continuation of the concave, saidv grate being steeply inclined in close relation to the sweep of the cylinderteeth 7.

Located over the upper end of the grate 6 is a-rotary heater 8, which operates upon the straw inovingforward over the grate 6 and deflects said straw and delivers the same over the topof the grate and in rear thereof upon the initial straw-carrier section 4, the straw being carried thence to the rear and discharged from the machine.

This invention contemplates the use of a grain-check 9, located immediatelyin rear of the grate 6 and composed of a substantially vertical series of rotary members 10. These rotary members are shown in the form of rollers having extended shafts 11, which are received and adapted to turn in journal bars or plates 12, arranged one at each side of the machine and just within the sides 13 of the casing. At one end the journals of the rollers 10 extend through the adjacentjournal bar or plate 12 and are provided with spur gearwheels 14, fast thereon and caused to rotate 9:: simultaneously by means of interposed idle The gears 14 and 15 are located between the j ournal-plate 1'2 and a cheek-plate 16, which lies close to the inner surface of the adjacent side 13 of the machine-casing. Two 5 of these cheek-plates 16 are employed, one at each side of the machine, the same extending forward and connecting with and forming part of the frame of the grate 6, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 4. The grate 6 is 'pivotally connected at 17 to the rear edge of the concave through the medium of the cheek-plates 16, which are provided with openings for the reception of the pivot 17, which may consist of a rod or bolt.

At the upper end of the grate and graincheck there is arranged a rod or shaft 18, the extremities of which are adjustable in arcshaped slots 19, formed in the sides 13 of the casing, whereby-said rod or shaft 18 may be moved in the arc of a circle of which the pivot 17 of the grate is the center. When the rod or bolt 18 is properly adjusted, the same is made fast by means of thumb screws or nuts 20. 21 designates a guard in the form of a stripextending lengthwise of and above the upper rotary member 10, so as to prevent the grains orkernels from flying over said upper member after passing through the grate 6. The guard 21 is provided with .knuckles or sleeves 22 to receive the rod or bolt 18, by means of which said rod is supported.

The shaft or journal of one of the rotary members 10, preferably the lower one, is extended through one of the cheek-plates 16 and provided with a sprocket-wheel 23, which receives a driving-chain 24, the latter passing around the sprocket-wheel 25 on the shaft 17, the latter being also provided with a driving-wheel 26, to which motion is communicated by means of a suitable belt. The

7 driving arrangement described does not interfere with the adjustment of the rod or shaft 18, such adj ustment being effected for the purpose of varying the angle of the grate 6 and the grain-check 9.

27 designates fender strips or guards secured to the forward edges of the cheek plates 16, so as to cover the sprocket-chain 24 and the sprocket-wheels in connection with which said chain operates, thereby preventing flying grain from interfering with the operation of said parts.

The rotary members or rollers 10 may he left smooth, if desired; but this invention also contemplates providing said rollers with teeth 28 of any desired or preferred form, several forms of teeth being illustrated in Fig. 5. The teeth 28 are adapted to catch the flying grains or kernels and direct the same downward into the grain-pan, rotary motion being imparted to the rollers or members 10 in such direction as to cause their forward surfaces to travel downwardly, as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 1. I therefore desire to be understood that I do not limit myself to the use of any special kind of roller or particular shape of teeth thereon. It will also be understood that any desired number of rollers or rotary members 10 may be employed, the diameter of the rollers varying with the number of rollers employed. The rotary members 12 are arranged in a substantially vertical series, extending from the upper end of the grate 6 downward to about the plane of the lower end thereof, but not low enough to interfere with the operation of the adjacent straw-carrier section 4. Furthermore, any usual or preferred means may be resorted to for imparting rotary motion to the members 10, the drawings simply showing one means of imparting motion to said rollers. These and other changes may be made in the form, proportion, and minor details of construction without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Instead of employing a plurality of rollers 'for the grain-checking device the latter may consist of a pair of rollers 29, located substantially the same as the upper and lower rollers 10, (shown in Fig. 1,) and an endless apron or flexible guard 30, which travels around said rollers and is actuated thereby, so that the inner surface of the apron or that side which is next to the grate moves in a downward direction, as indicated by the arrow. The apron 30 may be actuated at any desired speed and may be made either plain or provided with teeth, said apron serving in either instance to check the flying grains and direct the same downward.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isr 1. A threshing-machine comprising a cylinder, a concave, a grate arranged in rear of the cylinder and steeply inclined in close relation to the sweep of the cylinder-teeth, and a grain-check having a movable surface operating immediatelyin rear of said grate, substantially as described.

2. A threshing-machine comprising a cylinder, a concave, a grate extending upward from the rear edge of the concave and steeply inclined in close relation to the sweep of the cylinder-teeth, and a grain-check arranged immediately in rear of the grate and embodying a plurality of rotary members.

3. A threshing-machine comprising a cylinder, a concave, a grate extending upward from the rear of the concave and steeply inclined in close relation to the sweep of the cylinder-teeth, a grain-check located immediately in rear of the grate and embodyinga downwardly-moving surface next to the grate, and means for adjusting the angle of the grate and grain-check.

4. A threshing-machine comprising a cylinder, a concave, a grate extending upward from the rear edge of the concave and inclined in close relation to the sweep of the cylinderteeth,a shaft or rod adj ustably connected with the machine-casing and forming a movable support for the upper end of the grate, a graincheck embodying a plurality of rotary members arranged in a substantially vertical series immediately in rear of the grate, and a guard interposed between the upper rotary member and the movable rod or shaft which supports the grate.

5. A threshing-machine comprising a cylinder, a concave, a grate extending upward from the rear edge of the concave and steeply inclined in close relation to the sweep of the cylinder-teeth, a grain-check located immediately in rear of the grate and embodying a substantially vertical series of rollers, a rod or shaft located at the upper end of the grate and forming a common support for the grate and grain-check, and means for imparting rotary motion to said rollers.

6. A threshing-machine comprising a cylinder, a concave, a grate extending upward from the rear edge of the concave and steeply inclined in close relation to the sweep of the .pockets, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature 20 Witnesses:

O. GESAMAN, BEN. C; BURGESS. 

